Chapter 517: Notable Powerful Individuals

Chapter 517: Notable Powerful Individuals

Once the facilities for the Ninja Arena were completed, Mu Yue announced the details of the upcoming Jonin Tournament, including the fact that Hanzo would be in attendance, as well as the various arrangements for the Youth Ninja Competition.

The Youth Ninja Competition had been highly anticipated and promoted, and now that the details were out, those interested in participating or spectating made their way to the Land of Rain.

In Konoha, in addition to the geniuses that Hiruzen Sarutobi proactively asked about, there were also some young ninjas who wanted to join the Ninja Arena to broaden their horizons.

After all, the entry fee was only 68,900 ryo, a small sum for ninjas. Even if they didn't place and win rewards, they could still witness the legendary ninja instructor, Sosuke.

"Since I'm bringing a team anyway, I might as well bring two," Hiruzen Sarutobi said, gathering the other ninjas who wanted to compete and asking Mu Yue to lead them to the Land of Rain.

"You guys have risen through the ninja ranks incredibly fast. Even Genin like Itachi has become a Chunin," Asuma Sarutobi remarked, unable to hide his astonishment.

He had graduated just as Itachi had entered the academy, and now Itachi was a Chunin while he was still a Chunin himself. Their speed of advancement was truly outrageous.

"Hehe, let me tell you the secret to our success," Obito said with a mischievous smile.

Asuma was instantly intrigued, and Kurenai Yuhi leaned in to listen as well.

"Just defeat the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and complete a few S-rank missions," Obito replied nonchalantly.

Asuma's team: ...

If they had encountered the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, they would have been killed before even becoming Jonin. Moreover, Kirigakure no longer had the Seven Ninja Swordsmen; they now only had the Ninja Swordsmen duo.

With no signs of seeking reconciliation, Konohagakure naturally wouldn't return the ninja swords, and to prevent Kirigakure from retrieving them through unconventional means, the captured swords had been kept sealed.

Without the ninja swords, there could be no new members, so Kirigakure might only have the duo for a long time unless they decided to forge new swords.

"That's a great secret, but it's a bit wasteful of lives," Asuma said, giving Obito a light slap on the back.

"However, with you guys participating, we might just sweep all the rewards for Konohagakure. I wonder if the Ninjutsu Sect will mind," Obito added.

Asuma was well aware of how extraordinary Obito and his team were. Despite his own diligent training, the gap between them only seemed to widen.

Back when they had trained together, Obito had only been slightly better, but by the time of the Chunin Exams, Obito had progressed to the point of easily crushing him.

Although Asuma hadn't seen Obito in action recently, Obito's ability to assist Kakashi in defeating the Jinchuriki, Sanbi, during the Seven Ninja Swordsmen's attack was proof enough of his prowess.

"As long as we don't run into the unlucky situation of facing our own teammates, we'll definitely rank high," Obito said confidently.

His experiences on various missions and battlefields had given him a strong foundation for his self-assurance.

"Don't underestimate the other ninjas in the ninja world. The Youth Ninja Competition has an age limit of 18 and below, not 12 or 11," Kakashi reminded him.

Kakashi, while not arrogant, also didn't sell himself short. He never denied that he was a genius among ninjas.

However, Kakashi didn't think he could dominate everyone in the Youth Ninja Competition aside from Mu Yue's disciples. The reason was simple: he was only 11 years old.

Other competitors might not be as naturally talented as him, but they had seven more years of training and experience. In such a scenario, it was hard to predict who would come out on top.

"Kakashi, do you have any intel on the other competitors?" Obito asked curiously.

Obito was also aware of the age factor, which was why he hadn't boasted about sweeping the top spots. He only claimed that they would rank highly.

"I have a little information, but not much," Kakashi replied, shaking his head.

It was rare for ninjas around the age of 18 to have already made a name for themselves in the ninja world. The previous batch of renowned ninjas in that age group, like Minato Namikaze, had already surpassed that age limit.

"So, you didn't really know much either, yet you put on that know-it-all front," Obito teased.

He particularly disliked it when Kakashi acted superior, especially in front of Rin Nohara.

Kakashi just chuckled in response, choosing to remain silent.

Since the Ninjutsu Sect's headquarters wasn't too far from Konohagakure, Mu Yue chose a later departure time.

By the time Mu Yue's team arrived at Rikudo City, the place was already bustling with activity, and ninjas with varied forehead protectors filled the streets.

However, these ninjas all had their own purposes, and only a handful of fools would start trouble. Even then, the Ninjutsu Sect ninjas swiftly dealt with any issues, maintaining a relatively harmonious atmosphere.

"There are so many people, and even ninjas from enemy villages!" Obito exclaimed in surprise.

It was his first time seeing so many ninjas from different villages in one place, and he immediately noticed the variety of forehead protectors.

While the Ninja Corps had a larger number of ninjas, they all wore the same forehead protector, creating a different kind of spectacle.

"It goes to show that the Ninjutsu Sect has some capability," Kakashi commented.

In the current state of the ninja world, it wasn't an easy feat to gather so many ninjas from different villages without any clashes or conflicts.

Even a small team of two squads could easily lead to skirmishes.

After taking care of their accommodations, Kakashi and the others formed a team and proceeded to register for the competition.

The Ninjutsu Sect had done a good job with the signage and guidance, making it easy for Kakashi's team to find the registration area for the Youth Ninja Competition.

Hoshigaki Kisame had once pushed Kakashi and his team to the brink during the Chunin Exams' Forest of Death segment, and having introduced himself at the time, Guy remembered him.

"You mean Kisame Hoshigaki?" Kakashi was momentarily stunned by Guy's use of the name 'Hoshigaki,' and it took him a moment to recall the ninja's true moniker.

"Yeah, Hoshigaki, I'm pretty sure I got it right. I remember we even exchanged a few words during the third exam," Guy replied, confident in his recollection.

Guy's confident demeanor gave Kakashi a moment of self-doubt, wondering if he had misremembered the name.

"Looks like the Kirigakure ninjas are joining the competition too. It'll be like a battlefield out there, giving us another chance to trounce them," Obito remarked, spotting the mist-shrouded ninja who had once narrowly defeated him during the Chunin Exams.

Although Obito had already exacted his revenge during the third exam, winning again would further solidify his prowess.

"What a powerful chakra signature! Which ninja village does that person belong to?" Kakashi wondered aloud, suddenly sensing an unfamiliar yet formidable chakra in the vicinity.

He had been thinking that with so many contestants gathered, there might be some formidable opponents among them. But when he activated his Sharingan, he indeed sensed an unknown master in their midst.

Kakashi subtly shifted his position to get a better view, only to discover that the ninja with the formidable chakra didn't seem to be wearing a forehead protector.

"No forehead protector... Are they a non-village ninja, perhaps?" Kakashi mused to himself.

While there were indeed strong non-village ninjas, they were quite rare, and even more so if they were under the age of eighteen.

"Rai-ka Kakashi, Green Beast Might Guy, Shisui of the Body Flicker, the prodigies of Konohagakure have arrived!" exclaimed a ninja who had noticed their presence.

Although Kakashi and his team weren't yet renowned throughout the ninja world, they had certainly made a name for themselves in the surrounding countries.

Obito scanned the crowd, searching for the speaker who had addressed Kakashi's team but not him. He felt slighted, assuming they were looking down on him.

However, with so many ninjas around, many of whom were engaged in conversations, Obito's efforts to identify the speaker proved futile.

Tsunade, along with her companions, including Jiraiya and Orochimaru, turned their heads upon hearing these familiar names.

"It really is them; the competition just got a lot more intense," Tsunade remarked, a slight frown creasing her brow.

Among Kakashi's team, only Obito, whom she could counter, posed less of a threat. As for the others—Kakashi, Might Guy, and Shisui—Tsunade knew she would likely lose to them.

"Might Guy," Kisame Hoshigaki narrowed his eyes, fixing his gaze on Guy.

The crushing defeat Guy had handed him during the Chunin Exams still lingered in Kisame's memory.

"That group that once drove back the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist? How intriguing," Orochimaru remarked, his eyes gleaming with interest.

He believed that if Kirigakure still had the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, he would have been one of them, so he considered Obito's team to be on par with that elite group.

"Over there, it's Maki from Sunagakure," a young ninja from a minor village recognized one of the Sunagakure team members who had just arrived.

"So many prodigies from the major ninja villages," a ninja from a minor village murmured, feeling a sense of defeat before the competition even began.

Initially, they had thought that due to the ongoing war, there might be fewer participants, giving them a chance to advance. But upon further reflection, they realized that sending a few young ninja squads wouldn't significantly impact the war effort.

Although they didn't intend to compete, these ninjas from minor villages decided to stay and watch the competition before leaving.

...

On June 25th, the Youth Ninja Competition kicked off with the preliminary rounds.

The preliminaries were closed to spectators, and for the audience, the tournament truly began with the elimination rounds that followed.

With over two hundred contestants, Mu Yue divided them into eight brackets, each containing four slots for advancement to the elimination rounds. The preliminary matches continued until only four contestants remained in each bracket.

After the draw, Obito and his teammates gathered to discuss their placements.

"I'm number one in the second bracket," Obito said, holding up his number placard.

"I'm number fifteen in the eighth bracket!" Might Guy exclaimed, his brilliant white teeth flashing in a wide grin.

The others breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that if Guy had been in the same bracket, their fate would have largely depended on luck.

"I'm number one in the first bracket," Kakashi added.

"And I'm number ten in the fifth bracket," Shisui informed them.

"I'm in the fourth bracket, so we're all in different groups," Rin said with a smile.

Given the tournament format, it was advantageous for them to be spread across different brackets, as they wouldn't have to face each other in the early rounds, ensuring that more of them could advance to the elimination rounds.

However, Rin's concern was unnecessary, as Mu Yue had manipulated the brackets to ensure they wouldn't face each other prematurely.

The preliminary rounds served to guarantee a thrilling elimination phase, and by separating the stronger ninjas, Mu Yue ensured that talent wouldn't be squandered due to bad luck.

"Mhm, good luck, Rin. I'll come cheer you on after my match," Obito encouraged her before leaving.

"You too, Obito. Don't underestimate your opponent, even if they're weaker than you. Give it your all," Rin nodded and said seriously.

"I'll gather some intelligence on the other ninjas after the fight," Kakashi added before leaving for the first arena.

Since Kakashi was quick, he arrived early and waited briefly before his match began.

"Round one, contestant number one, Kakashi Hatake, versus contestant number two, Daisuke Yamagata," the referee quickly announced after glancing at the list in his hand.

Whoosh!

Kakashi, upon hearing his name, used the Body Flicker Technique to appear in the battle arena.

Daisuke was stunned to hear that his opponent was Rai-ka Kakashi, and it took him a moment to snap out of his daze and rush to the battle arena.

"What a lousy draw, making me fight Rai-ka," Daisuke muttered to himself.

"Begin!" the referee shouted as soon as the contestants were ready.

Shushushushushushushu!

Daisuke swiftly pulled out shuriken from his ninja tool pouch and threw them at Kakashi.

Although Kakashi had the reputation of defeating the Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, Daisuke couldn't just admit defeat now that they were standing in the arena.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Kakashi effortlessly deflected all the shuriken with his White Light Chakra Sabre, then focused his breath and burst into action with extreme speed.

Daisuke could only gape as Kakashi suddenly accelerated, and before he knew it, the short blade was pressed against his neck.

"The gap in strength is so huge..." Daisuke's eyes widened in disbelief at the turn of events.

He knew he wouldn't be able to beat Kakashi, but he never expected to lose after just throwing a shuriken. He had thought the match would last at least a few exchanges.

"Contestant number one, Kakashi Hatake, wins," the referee immediately announced Kakashi's victory.

Kakashi sheathed his sword and left the arena. He first entered his Transparent World state to observe the ninjas in the first arena, but not finding anyone noteworthy, he proceeded to the second arena.

"Contestant number one, Uchiha Obito, wins."

Just as Kakashi arrived at the second arena, he heard the referee announcing Obito's victory.

Obito, elated at winning his match, left the arena with a wide grin, only to see Kakashi approaching.

Obito's smile faded slightly, as he had just been thinking about going to cheer Kakashi on after winning his own match, but Kakashi was even faster.

"I'm going to check out the third, sixth, and seventh arenas. Want to come?" Kakashi invited him.

These arenas didn't have any of Mu Yue's disciples, so Kakashi wanted to observe and see if there were any notable ninjas.

Arenas with Mu Yue's disciples didn't require as much observation since they could just exchange information later in the evening.

"No, I'm going to the fourth arena," Obito refused.

Kakashi felt that the second arena might also need some occasional observation, as Obito didn't seem like he'd be able to gather much intelligence.

"That Kirigakure ninja," Kakashi said as he walked towards the third arena and spotted the fighting Kirigakure ninja, Mangetsu Hozuki.

Kakashi paused to watch Mangetsu's performance; his chakra wasn't weak either.

"Take this!" A ninja dressed as a hidden stone user swung his longsword at Mangetsu.

Mangetsu, however, neither dodged nor blocked, simply standing in place with a faint smile as the sword pierced his body.

"He turned into water?" The Iwagakure ninja was astonished to find that Mangetsu had transformed into a water clone.

The ninja quickly withdrew his sword, and the wound on Mangetsu's body healed instantly, as if nothing had happened.

The ninja from the Land of Earth stubbornly tried to slash Mangetsu again, but Mangetsu formed a pistol shape with his hand and pointed it at him.

"Water Style: Water Gun Jutsu!"

Bang!

A liquid as powerful as a bullet shot out and knocked the ninja to the ground.

"Mangetsu Hozuki wins!"

After leaving the arena, Mangetsu noticed Kakashi, whose appearance, with his rare white hair, was distinctive among the young ninjas.

"You're one of Master Leyang Muyue's disciples, aren't you?" Mangetsu asked Kakashi.

"Yes," Kakashi nodded in admission.

Being a disciple of Mu Yue was something Kakashi was proud of, so he saw no need to lie.

"Then I remember correctly. Don't lose before the knockout rounds, Kakashi Hatake," Mangetsu challenged.

Kakashi's expression remained neutral. It was normal for a Kirigakure shinobi to hold a grudge against him, considering how many of their jinchuriki had been killed by Konoha.

Moreover, if Kakashi remembered correctly, Mu Yue had killed a powerful ninja named Mangetsu Hozuki on the Eastern Front. This Mangetsu might be related to him.

"You must be wondering about my identity. I'm not a petty person, so I'll be frank. Mangetsu Hozuki was my uncle.

Kakashi, feeling annoyed, stopped talking and quickly made his way to the sixth arena.

"Contestant number three, Sunagani, versus contestant number four, Ueda Hisa!"

The first battle in the sixth arena was a little slower, and by the time Kakashi arrived, they were only in the first round of the second match.

"So his name is Sunagani," Kakashi paused and prepared to watch the match.

This ninja, Sunagani, was the one Kakashi had noticed earlier with his Transparent World, possessing a powerful chakra within him.

"Begin!" the referee announced.

As soon as the signal was given, Ueda rushed forward, sword drawn, toward his opponent.

Facing the attacking Ueda, Sunagani calmly took out a kunai to defend himself.

Due to the large gap in their strengths, Ueda was quickly overpowered by Sunagani, who seized an opening and kicked him to the ground.

Just as Ueda was about to get up and continue the fight, he was surprised to find his body moving on its own.

"What's going on?!" Ueda exclaimed in shock as he watched himself stab his sword into his abdomen.

The other contestants watching the match were also astonished, unsure why Ueda had suddenly started to harm himself.

"Sunagani wins!" To prevent any accidents, the referee immediately declared the fight over.

As soon as the referee spoke, Ueda regained control of his body and quickly pulled out his sword, pressing it against his wound.

"Chakra threads... Could he be a puppeteer?" Kakashi, in his Transparent World state, observed that there were a few thin threads attached to Ueda's body after he fell to the ground.

If there was one group of ninjas who were exceptionally skilled in the use of chakra threads, it would undoubtedly be the puppeteers of Sunagakure.

A powerful puppeteer could control multiple puppets to attack, making it difficult for their opponents to defend against them.

Kakashi was a bit uncertain because this ninja, Sunagani, was not wearing the Sunagakure forehead protector.

The Youth Ninja Competition had generated a lot of buzz, with many ninja villages participating. Winning the competition would bring honor to the ninja village and potentially attract new missions, so it made little sense for a ninja to compete without representing their village.

"I'll come back to watch the second round," Kakashi thought to himself.

With his current pace, he should be able to finish his match quickly and arrive at the sixth arena before Sunagani's fight begins.

Kakashi then made his way to the seventh arena, and what he saw there startled him.

"What a terrifying chakra," Kakashi exclaimed, shocked by the chakra he sensed from Nagato when he observed him with his Transparent World.

Nagato's chakra wasn't just abundant; aside from jinchuriki, Kakashi had never encountered a ninja with such powerful chakra.

Kakashi felt that he needed to find a new adjective to describe Nagato, as no other ninja he had sensed could compare to him.

As there were so many strong ninjas in Konoha, and Kakashi wasn't one to spy on people, he didn't use his Transparent World on everyone he met.

"He's a member of the Akatsuki," Kakashi recognized Nagato and slowly recalled some memories.

Kakashi had a deep impression of the Akatsuki, as Naruto had described them as a terrifying organization that stole tailed beasts. However, their investigations in the Rain Country revealed that the current Akatsuki was not only not terrifying but also quite admirable.

"Contestant number nineteen, Nagato, versus contestant number twenty, Kurosawa," the announcer introduced the match.

Kakashi watched intently as Kurosawa was someone he had encountered during the Chunin Exams, a ninja from Kirigakure. While he wasn't as strong as Hoshigaki Kisame or Terumi Mei, he was still quite skilled.

"Water Style: Misty Hide Technique!" Kurosawa quickly retreated and sprayed a thick mist that covered the entire arena.

"Wind Style: Pressure Damage!" Nagato calmly formed the necessary hand seals and exhaled a high-pressure wind ball.

Whoosh!!

The wind ball transformed into a massive storm as it landed, instantly dispersing the thick mist that Kurosawa had created.

But the power of the Pressure Damage technique didn't stop there.

The powerful high-pressure wind ravaged the arena, causing the ground to crack. Kurosawa, who had not expected Nagato to use such a terrifying jutsu, was hit by the wind blast and flew backward, spitting out blood.

Kakashi: ...

During the Chunin Exams, they had put up a tough fight, but now they were easily defeated in one move.

"His ninjutsu is strong, but it's nothing I can't handle," Kakashi thought to himself, analyzing the situation.

Given Nagato's absurd amount of chakra, Kakashi wasn't particularly impressed by his ninjutsu.

Obito and Shibi's fire-style jutsu, as well as Kakashi's own lightning-style jutsu, could achieve similar results, and they could even be more powerful when using their breathing chakra state.

"I'll come back to watch the second round," Kakashi decided to spend his time in the sixth and seventh arenas, studying Nagato and Sunagani.

It was hard to make a judgment about Sunagani based on his limited performance so far, but Nagato was truly remarkable, with his overwhelming chakra and wind-style jutsu.

PS: I hit a bit of a block while writing this chapter, but I managed to get through it. It's about 6k words.

Also, I'd like to ask for monthly votes, as the double monthly vote event has started.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end